Supporters bid during the silent auction as a part of the Artful Bra Contest on Tuesday at the Missouri Theatre in downtown Columbia. The contest's 70 entries were auctioned to raise funds for the Ellis Fischel Cancer Center.
|Bobby Watson

Morgan Cavcey's entry called "Big or Small, Save Them All!" hangs above the stage during the Artful Bra Contest on Tuesday at the Missouri Theatre. Cavcey constructed her entry with miniature breast cancer awareness ribbons and won first place in its category in the contest.
|Bobby Watson

Breast cancer survivors, their family members and supporters view the collection of decorated bras hanging above the stage of the Missouri Theatre during the Artful Bra Contest on Tuesday in downtown Columbia.
|Bobby Watson

The Artful Bra Contest featured 70 bras Tuesday at the silent auction. Money raised from the event will go toward patient care and mammographies at Ellis Fischel Cancer Center.

COLUMBIA — The Artful Bra Contest featuring a silent auction and reception filled the Missouri Theatre with laughter and music from a string quartet Tuesday evening.

The event featured 70 bras, including one made of bacon and another decorated with mosaic tiles.

Cup Size Winners

A Cup “Artful”

1st place “Make Breast Cancer A Thing of the Past” by Patricia Brooks 2nd place “Fifty Shades of Pink” by Crystal Elliott 3rd Place “Tribute to Michael C. Perry, MD” by Theresa Murphy, and Cyndee McCann

B Cup “Beautiful”

1st place “Big or Small Save Them All” by Morgan Cavcey 2nd place “We’ve Got Our Plan How About You?” by Beverly Curry and Tracy Batisch 3rd Place “You Are ‘Tutu’ Important Not to do Your Monthly Self Exams” by Robin Stoermer

C Cup “Creative”

1st Place “Fight Like a Girl” by Karen Guynn 2nd Place “Cancer is a Word, Not a Sentence” by Jennifer Bloss and Holly Oswald

Tied With

2nd Place “Fishing for a Cure” by Nancy Young, Glenda Campbell, and Sherri Perry 3rd Place “Fill in the Blank” by Rebecca Ann Bergfield

The event has raised more than $19,500 over the past four years, according to Helen Oetting, director of external affairs for MU Health Care. After Tuesday, Oetting expects that amount to exceed $20,000, which Ellis Fischel Cancer Center says it will use to help women who have trouble affording mammograms and to fund care for those with breast cancer.

David Clithero, associate vice chancellor of the heath system, has been helping with the auction since it began four years ago.

"It certainly is a team effort," Clithero said before he assisted a woman onto the stage to view the bras.

Clithero isn't phased by the female dominant atmosphere, but wishes more men would make an appearance at the event.

"My being here might in some way encourage other men to participate," Clithero said.

On stage, some bras were displayed on hangers, while others were set on the tables. Each bra had a bidding sheet and guests were invited to participate by bidding and voting on their favorite bra for the People's Choice Award.

That distinction was given to Jessica Hagenhoff with Dermistique Face and Body, a salon off Forum Boulevard.

Because Dermistique specializes in skin care, the artist focused on skin cancer as well. The salon's creation featured a feminine mannequin dressed in a grass skirt and complete with a coconut bra.

For Paige Klein, Tuesday's event was her first. Her mom was diagnosed with breast cancer and is now a five-year survivor. She said the event is a great way to celebrate her mom's life.

Paul Dale, chief of surgical oncology and interim director of clinical services at Ellis Fischel Cancer Center, said the environment of the auction was wonderful.